Texas Drilling Permits: Week of October 14–October 21, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

Texas Drilling Permits: Week of October 14–October 21, 2026 — RRC Activity Report

The Texas Railroad Commission recorded 273 new drilling permits for the week of October 14–October 21, 2026, reflecting continued operator activity across the Permian Basin despite softer crude pricing. WTI crude settled at $98.69 per barrel, down $2.72 from the prior close, a move worth watching as operators weigh near-term drilling budgets against longer-term development plans.

Midland County led all Texas counties with 44 new permits, followed by Martin County with 25, Reeves County with 22, Culberson County with 18, and Loving County with 17. These five counties accounted for the bulk of filings this week, underscoring the Permian Basin's continued dominance in Texas drilling activity. RRC data shows 15 permits specifically tagged to Permian Basin designations this period, with additional activity spread across adjacent formations in the Midland and Delaware sub-basins.

On the operator side, Diamondback E&P LLC topped the list with 30 permits filed, reinforcing its position as one of the most active drillers in the Permian this quarter. Chevron U.S.A. Inc. followed with 20 permits, while Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc. filed 14. Permian Resources Operating, LLC added 13 permits, and WPX Energy Permian, LLC rounded out the top five with 12. Together, these five operators represent a significant share of total weekly activity, signaling sustained capital deployment in core Permian acreage.

Among the week's filings, several permits stood out for monitoring purposes, including Permit #904557 from Crescent Energy Operating, LLC in Ward County, and a cluster of four permits — #919327, #919326, #919325, and #919324 — filed by Blue Arrow Operating, LLC in Reeves County. Spud dates for these permits remain TBD, and land teams, service providers, and midstream planners should track these filings closely as operational details firm up in coming weeks.

For E&P teams, land professionals, and oilfield service companies, permit filings like these offer early visibility into where capital and crews will be deployed next. Understanding which counties and operators are ramping activity helps service companies position equipment and personnel ahead of demand, while land teams can anticipate leasing and title work tied to new development.

DownHole Digital monitors Texas RRC permit filings in real time, giving operators, service providers, and land professionals a faster way to track county-level and operator-level drilling trends as they happen. Staying current on permit activity — including high-priority filings before spud dates are confirmed — can provide a meaningful edge in a fast-moving basin like the Permian.

To stay ahead of weekly Texas drilling permit trends, learn more at downhole.digital.